According to Ministry of Public Health and Social Development statistics, 13 million Russian citizens, or 10% of its population, are disabled persons. With no chances to study, no job opportunities and no right to a decent life, many of them are excluded from community life. There are very few cases of inclusion and acceptance in Russia today. Furthermore, disabled and handicapped individuals often meet with indifference or negative attitude of fellow-citizens. By declining an enriching experience of doing good and accepting people who are different, Russian society impoverishes itself. Such a situation does not say much for the public morality in the country where charity and humanism used to be traditional values.

 

According to World Health Organisation statistics, 1 baby in 700 is born with Down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder caused by an error in cell division. The incidence is the same in all countries, climates and social groups. It is not related to parents’ way of life, health status, income, education, race or nationality.

 

About 2500 children with Down syndrome are born in Russia annually. In 85% of such births, parents give their children up to maternity homes, often following doctors’ advice. The abandoned children are sent to state institution with no chance of ever leaving them. But there is an alternative!  The children can live in their families and join early intervention and education programmes.  They develop and learn under a guidance of special education professionals, and they can go on learning at pre-schools and schools. Children with Down syndrome, no matter how different, have a vast learning potential.  HOW MANY OF US KNOW THIS?

In addition to the void of social welfare and educational opportunities in Russia, there are a great many myths and wrong stereotypes about the nature and consequences of Down syndrome. The term “Down syndrome” is often used as a derogatory swear-word.

 

Thousands of families are forced to fight a lone hand in an indifferent or hostile environment for their children’s decent future.

 

An informal survey was conducted in different social groups to find out their opinion about Down syndrome. According to its findings, many people believe that:

 

Down syndrome is a disease, it must be cured

People with Down syndrome are uneducable

A child with Down syndrome is the fruit of the parents’ asocial way of life

 

Downside Up invites mass media to work together for a better life for people with Down syndrome

 

Elena Lubovina
Downside Up
14A Parkovaya Str., Moscow, 105043 Russia
Tel. +7 499 367 1000;+7 499 165 5536
lubovina@downsideup.org